The Divine Armor of the Old Century（Book 1）

Chapter 53

Lloyd sat in the chair, his hands bound behind him, while Eve sat back to back with him. Surrounding them were soldiers holding aluminum heat rifles, the igniters at the gun muzzles glowing faintly, indicating the lethal weapons were primed for firing.

Though Lloyd sat within the darkness of the platform, tall walls obstructed his view. Yet, the rumbling of machinery echoed through the black night, heavy and distant, hinting at some impending event.

"So, this is your true identity, isn't it?" The moment the detective spoke, Lloyd recognized his voice. In certain aspects, this detective was indeed remarkably sharp.

"Let's not talk just yet, let me guess." Lloyd showed off, his mind racing. Piece by piece, he assembled the fragments of Burlow's past, until the detective's true self was revealed.

"A member of the Yoma organization, master of the Lower City, secretary to the nobles..." His thoughts raced, on the brink of unveiling the truth.

On the sidelines, Azure Jade sensed trouble. She drew the iron rod from her waist, swinging it and revealing a slightly longer folding blade from its steel crevice.

"No need, he will guess eventually. What we need to do now is exchange secrets. This detective is truly valuable," Burlow intervened before Lloyd's deductions were complete.

When Lloyd saw it all clearly, Burlow knew. Many secrets would become clear before Lloyd, just like objects under sunlight, with no shadow left.

"So, what name did the Queen give you?" Suddenly, Lloyd raised his head, his gaze seemingly penetrating all. He had understood everything.

"These firearms are not something a mere gang leader can produce. From raw materials to craftsmanship, even research and development, it requires a formidable foundation... only the machinery of a nation can achieve this."

It seemed like a realization struck Lloyd.

"So, Burlow, is this your true identity? You're not just the nobles' secretary, you're the Queen's secretary. All the evidence against the nobles in the Lower City is in your hands. As long as the Queen desires, their fate is sealed."

"Lloyd is too clever to live long." Burlow anticipated these thoughts from Lloyd, or perhaps it was Lloyd's failure to anticipate them that seemed wrong.

"So, I have enough to offer in exchange for trust."

"Our trust? You're an unpredictable stranger. That doesn't sound reliable," Burlow retorted.

"At least we share the same goal now."

"What?"

"The Sacred Coffin."

That was the nightmare at the heart of chaos, the origin of everything.

Burlow's pupils contracted. He didn't understand how Lloyd knew about it, considering he hadn't told him. After all, back then, Lloyd seemed to him merely a competent detective, not someone associated with the Hunters' Guild.

"Don't just stand there. Wasn't it you who hired me to investigate? So, finding some crucial information is quite normal, isn't it?"

"So, this is your price?"

"Yes, so let's exchange our current intelligence and work together, shall we?"

Lloyd showed no sign of being intimidated by the guns pointed at him. With so many aluminum heat rifles firing at once, he could be melted in an instant, yet he acted as if he hadn't noticed, shaking the chair vigorously as he spoke.

"Moreover, Burlow, you need me. Those people don't want you to get the Sacred Coffin. It's evident from the Yoma on that train."

In his brief career as a Hunter, Lloyd had killed many Yoma. His professional experience far surpassed that of everyone present.